Guilt

"Lenas, I want you to sneak behind Duncan's army. That way we can surprise him and trap him. Can you do that?" Roy looked at the Filine. The chief nodded.

"Of course," the Filine studied the map at the table.

"Hannah, do you know where Valor is?" Roy asked.

"He should have-" shouts interrupted her. They heard footsteps and a bandit appeared at the door.

"Your Majesty! It's the Kalkara!" his eyes were wide with fright.

"What are you talking about?" Roy asked angrily.

"The Kalkara just snapped and now he's on a rampage!" the bandit raced down the hall. Roy stood up and went down the halls as well, Hannah and Lenas followed. As they turned through the twists and turns, they heard more shouts and snarls.

"Valor!" Roy cried when they reached the room. The assassin had drawn his blades and slowly moving to his prey, Barry. Valor turned to see his old friends and the Filine chief. He snarled.

"Valor, stop what you're doing. Sheathe your swords," Roy said calmly. Valor snarled again. Hannah was sure he would attack, but then Valor angrily snapped his swords back in their place.

"What happened, Valor?" Hannah asked. Valor growled and shook his head.

"He can't speak, Your Majesty," Lenas said.

"What do you mean, he can't speak?" Hannah questioned.

"It's the potion, Hannah," Roy answered. He walked over to the assassin. He took out a silver necklace, waving it in front of Valor's eyes. The hood followed where the necklace went: left, right, left, right. He slowly held out a hand and Roy dropped the necklace in his palm. Valor snarled again, this time it sounded of deep satisfaction.

"What does that mean?" Hannah asked.

"Valor is a Kalkara, in human form. He has lost all memories of being a human. Now we have to pay him silver so he knows we're in charge," Roy smirked. Valor seemed to agree, his hood shaking.

"Will? Are you okay?" Horace asked.

"Yes, Horace. I'm fine. I just can't wait to kill Valor."

"Okay, forget I asked," Horace said angrily. Will turned to look at his friend. He had to look up, being on their horses, to do so.

"Sorry. I'm still upset about Valor's decision." Horace grinned.

"Don't worry. If Valor doesn't get killed in battle, you can kill him when he returns." Will smiled. Horace had read his mind. The ranger looked back out on the plains, shading his eyes against the glaring sun.

"Let's go," Tug turned around and Kicker followed. They rode quietly through the woods. Soon they reached the base of the kingdom's army. Everywhere they turn, there were knights, generals, and rangers running in preparation of the on-coming war.

"Will, Horace," Halt walked towards them. "The King needs us."

"Why?" Horace frowned. Halt rolled his eyes.

"He wants us to have coffee and relax. He needs to talk to you two!" Halt said with some force.

"Okay, okay, Halt," Will hid a smile. When they came back from Roy's base, Halt had yelled at them, given a lecture, and yelled again. The two boys dismounted and followed Halt into the tent.

"Did you get any information of Roy?" King Duncan asked.

"He seemed angry that I killed Morgarath," Horace remembered Roy's eyes.

"Interesting."

"What about Valor?" Crowley asked.

"He made some agreement with Roy that made him turn to his side," Will said.

"What are we going to do about him?" Halt rubbed the side of his head.

"Nothing much, I'll tell you that," said a new voice.

"You!" Will drew his saxe at the sight of the newcomer.

"Treaty, I'm not here to fight. I'm here to help save Valor," Hannah hissed.

"Why should we trust you?" Gilan asked.

"…Because Valor's life depends on it."

"How?" Horace questioned.

"Would you kindly introduce yourself?" King Duncan asked.

"Of course. I'm sorry, Your Majesty," Hannah curtsied. "My name is Hannah and I was one of Valor's friends when he was with Cody's group. He and Roy helped me escape my life with pirates. I am a Dreading."

"A what?" Will asked.

"Dreading. We're tormentors," Hannah turned to the king. "Please, let me help."

"Should I trust you?"

"It's the only way to save Valor. He's…" Hannah blinked back tears, "he's not human anymore."

"What are you talking about?" Horace said.

"He…" suddenly the girl fainted.

"Hannah!" Gilan caught her before she fell.

"She must be exhausted," King Duncan said. "Let her rest." Gilan nodded and exited the tent.

"Valor?" Hannah looked at the boy before her. 'No, she thought, it can't be him. Valor's not like that.' "Valor?" she asked again. The boy turned. He had one red and one blue eye, burning with hatred.

"What?" he asked, snarling. Hannah stepped back. "Scared of me? This was your fault. You worked with Roy to make me like this!" he walked to her. She kept backing up.

"Valor! I didn't mean to-"

"Mean to what? Make me like this? You know you did, Hannah! You just won't admit it!" Valor snarled. He stopped, pain on his face. He fell to his knees, gasping.

"Valor!" Hannah ran to him. He looked up, snarling.

"Stay away! What makes you think I need you?" he stood up. "It's over, Hannah! All over for me!" He turned and walked away.

"Wait! Valor, please," Hannah tried to run to him, but something held her back. She turned and saw Valor holding her arms. She looked ahead. Valor was still walking away.

"How does it feel to be trapped?" Valor grinned evilly, sharp teeth baring. His red eyes seemed to have humor in them. Hannah tried to break free, but his clawed hands dug deeper into her wrists. She cried out in pain. "That's right. You feel a lot pain. But mine was unbearable."

"Valor…" tears streamed down.

"Oh! You're crying now. You think I have sympathy?" Valor laughed. "You didn't have sympathy for me when I drank that potion! If I can recall, it was your fault that made me have no sympathy!

"What are you going to do now? What can you do? It's too late for me. You think that waltzing into King Duncan's tent and telling them about me would do anything? You think you can change what happened to me? You think you're the one that has the need to save me just because you love me?"

"Valor, I'm sorry," Hannah stopped crying. "I know what I did was wrong. I regret that now. I know I can do this. I know I can save you."

"Tech! How can you save me if you can't save yourself?" Valor's hands dug deeper into her wrists.

"I'm sorry, Valor! I didn't mean it!" Hannah screamed.

"Your apology's too late, Hannah!"

"Hannah, wake up! It's just a nightmare!" Will shook the thrashing girl. Her eyes opened and Will helped her sit up.

"What? Where-?"

"You're in a safe place," Gilan answered.

"What were you dreaming about?" Horace was curious. She kept on screaming Valor.

"I saw Valor," she started. "He started saying how it was all my fault that he was like that. Then he walked away. I tried to catch him, but another Valor held me back. This one was the result of the potion."

"I don't get it," Horace frowned. Will rolled his eyes.

"Horace, she's saying that the dream was showing her the guilt she has been holding." Horace's mouth shaped into an o.

"How was the other Valor?" Gilan asked.

"He…he was horrible. He started saying how I was too late."

"…"

"Enough about my dream," Hannah stood up, "I need to see King Duncan."

"Your Majesty, your army would be outmatched," Hannah said.

"Why?" He frowned.

"Roy has Valor. Valor is now a Kalkara."

"What do you mean Valor's a Kalkara?" Will interrupted.

"He has the eyes, claws, strength, and mind of a Kalkara. That was the effects of the potion," Hannah explained. "You would need to get rid of the Filines first. Then direct your attention to Valor. The plan was that Roy would trap your army between his and the Filines'. You would be destroyed."

"Why does this remind me of Morgarath's plan?" Crowley asked.

"You're right," Halt said.

"Is there a connection between Roy and Morgarath?" Will asked.

"I don't know. The person that probably knows is Valor. But he can't speak," Hannah said. She sighed, "What would happen to Roy when you win the war?"

"We will decide on that later," King Duncan said. Hannah nodded. She stood up and left.

"Hannah!" Will stopped the girl.

"What is it, Treaty?" she hissed.

"I have three questions," he said firmly. "Why are you helping us, why do you hate me, and how can Valor be turned back to normal?" Hannah pondered these questions.

"I'm helping because of the guilt that I helped Roy make Valor into a Kalkara. Valor was my friend. I hate you because I know you were connected to my parents' death, and I don't know how Valor can be turned back to normal."

"How am I connected to your parents' death?" Will didn't remember killing anybody that looked like Hannah.

"Do you remember Tennyson?" Hannah saw Will nodded. "Well, they were in his little group, fools I say. You, Horace, and Halt got rid of Tennyson. My parents disappeared when Tennyson disappeared."

"Oh," Will looked ashamed, "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I say they needed to be snapped out of it. Thanks to you, they did. But I still feel the need to get you back for it," she smiled. Will smiled back.

"What did you say?" Roy looked angrily at the bandit. Derrick cowered lower.

"Hannah's gone, Your Majesty." Roy paced his room angrily. Where would Hannah go? Unless… Roy had a suspicion that Hannah had a crush on Valor for a while. That was probably it.

"Lenas, move your soldiers out now," he ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Lenas left the room.

"Valor, you're coming with me," Roy looked at the assassin. Valor growled, following his leader out of the room with Derrick.